British Literature and Culture: Restoration to Reformation

This course surveys British literature from the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660 to the first Reform Bill in 1832. During this interval, known as ¿the long 18th Century,¿ Britain emerged as the world¿s first commercial and industrial superpower while it also experienced an immense artistic transformation from the aesthetics of Neoclassicism to those of Romanticism. The course examines the ideas and the aesthetics of Restoration Comedy, Augustan Satire, and Romantic lyrical poetry in relation to their political, philosophical, and literary contexts.

Prerequisites: Students who have ENGL 232/233) transfer credit may not take this course.